John 18:19-27

John 18:19 NIV84

Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

Two matters of questioning: the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching. Why do you think the disciples were in question?

The high priest was so steeped in the law, he was trying to entrap Jesus.

Deuteronomy 13:1–10 NIV84

If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he preached rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way the Lord your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you. If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods that neither you nor your fathers have known, gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him. You must certainly put him to death. Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people. Stone him to death, because he tried to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

The conviction of this penalty would be the death penalty.

Another fulfillment of prophecy:

Isaiah

Isaiah 29:21 NIV84

those who with a word make a man out to be guilty, who ensnare the defender in court and with false testimony deprive the innocent of justice.

However, it was illegal to question Jesus in an informal setting because of the Jewish law. But, notice it was the high priest emeritus that did the questioning here. It was an attempt to catch Jesus in a trap.

John 18:20 NIV84

“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.

John 18

Jesus obviously talked with His disciples in private, but it was always in expounding on what He had done in public. Nothing that was ever said in private was not already said in public.

John 18:21 NIV84

Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

Remember, the proper procedure was to interrogate the witnesses, not the defendant.

This question and statement Jesus made was a rebuke to Annas who does not seem to have an answer.

John 18:22 NIV84

When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

The Greek word that used for the phrase “struck him” is RHAPISMA. It refers to a sharp blow with the flat of the hand to the face. It is used as an attempt of humiliation.

Again, the OT shows this as prophecy coming true:

Isaiah 50:6 NIV84

I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.

Micah 5:1 NIV84

Marshal your troops, O city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod.

Job 1

Job 16:10 NIV84

Men open their mouths to jeer at me; they strike my cheek in scorn and unite together against me.

Remember, Jesus hands were tied. What a cowardly approach by this officer. It was done in a haughty manner.

John 18:23 NIV84

“If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”

How would you have liked to have been the officer of the high priest that just did that and was asked this question from Jesus?

Jesus is not backing down. He is well aware of His rights and in short is asking for a fair trial.

John 18:

John 18:24 NIV84

Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.

This is a true “passing of the buck.” Annas recognizes that he will get no where with Jesus. Before Jesus can be brought before Pilate, He must be legally accused from the reigning high priest which is Caiaphas.

It is interesting to note that there were at least 18 rules from the MISHNAH. The MISHNAH is the written account of the oral Jewish traditions concerning the law, trials, and dealing with those that had broken the law.

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John 18:25 NIV84

As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.”

John has given us a huge contrast here: Jesus is shown as standing up to His accusers and Peter is cowering down and denying to his accusers. Here is Peter’s denial number 2.

Remember what Jesus had said to those who would deny Him in front of others?

Matthew 10:33 NIV84

But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

Matthew

Luke 12:9 NIV84

But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.

How often do we do this?

John 18:26 NIV84

One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?”

John 18:26–27 NIV84

One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

We know that this was not the end for Peter because we have the rest of the story. Knowing the rest of the story, what does this tell us about redemption?